Chris Tapsell Takes the Helm at Eurogamer: A New Wizard's Quest for Gaming Journalism
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Eurogamer veteran Chris Tapsell has officially taken the reins as Editor-in-Chief, outlining a vision to double down on 'Proper Journalism' and quality content while embracing the site's unique quirks. He's committed to elevating news, reviews, and features with a team he clearly reveres, despite acknowledging the industry's uphill battle against maintaining high editorial standards in 2026.
Right then, gather 'round, folks! Got some news from the digital scrolls of Eurogamer, and fair dinkum, it's a bit of a changing of the guard, or perhaps a new phase in an epic quest. We're talking about Chris Tapsell, who's just stepped into the illustrious (and no doubt slightly intimidating) role of Editor-in-Chief over at one of the OG gaming sites. Credit where it's due, the man himself spilled the beans in a lovely, deeply personal blog post on Eurogamer.net, which you can check out for all the original lore.
Now, Chris isn't some fresh-faced n00b just popping in from the tutorial zone. Nope, he's been hacking away at the keyboard for nearly a decade, starting as a humble guides writer. He’s seen it all, apparently, from the legendary 'tatty sofa' in their old office – a mythical artefact, I reckon, probably imbued with ancient editorial magic and the faint scent of stale FIFA victories (he *swears* he always beat Wes, but we’ll just file that under ‘unverified player claims’). It's a proper origin story, isn’t it? Shows that sometimes, the best leaders are those who've navigated every dungeon and side-quest along the way.
Of course, Eurogamer, like any good long-running MMO, has seen its share of patches and re-skins over the years. New owners, new editors, new offices – a decade is a bloody long time in internet years! But amidst the churn, Chris highlights the incredible talent that's both moved on to new adventures and, crucially, joined the guild. He's talking about a veritable party composition of seasoned pros: Dom Peppiatt bringing the 'ebullient criticism' as deputy, Connor Makar on 'boundless enthusiasm' for original reporting (and fighting games, bless him), Victoria Phillips-Kennedy with her 'uncanny knack' for interviews, and Matt Wales delivering 'forensic criticism'. And then there's the tireless guides team – Lottie, Kelsey, and Marie – basically the elite support class keeping us all from getting stuck. Oh, and Bertie, who's been there for 20-plus years! I reckon Bertie's probably got some secret dev console commands at this point.
What's clear is Chris's love for the site's... shall we say, *idiosyncrasies*. He rattles off Eurogamer's secret rules, like how headline puns shouldn't repeat key words, and the perpetual battle against rogue smart quotes in their CMS. These aren't bugs, mate, they're *features*! They're the unique lore entries that give Eurogamer its undeniable flavour, a certain 'je ne sais quoi' that, for some reason, just screams 'founded in Brighton'. It’s that blend of deadly serious and childishly silly that makes it special, even when the comments section is, ahem, having a 'rigorous debate'.
So, what's the grand vision? Chris wants Eurogamer to be 'even more Eurogamer'. And what does that actually mean in the wild, often chaotic landscape of gaming news in 2026? He’s talking about 'plurality', which sounds like a fancy way of saying 'we cover a lot of brilliant stuff'. More specifically, he's calling for news that's 'detailed, authoritative, led by expertise', with a big emphasis on 'original reporting' – what he charmingly calls 'Proper Journalism'. Incisive reviews that start a conversation, not end it. Guides that are 'the best you'll read'. And features that tell 'great stories'. Crucially, their opinions should 'fight for the cause of everyday players, consumers, developers, artists, technicians and enthusiasts'. That's a noble quest, mate, especially in a world often dominated by corporate buzzwords and marketing smoke screens. It's a commitment to the folks who actually make and play the games, rather than just profit off 'em.
Now, Chris isn't wearing rose-tinted specs. He openly admits the monumental challenge ahead. He reckons 'the world is stacked against old ideas like 'quality' and 'editorial standards' in 2026'. He's not wrong there; it’s a bloody boss fight just to maintain excellence in the current digital ecosystem. He knows they'll make mistakes, because, y'know, they're only human. But his promise? To aim for those high standards every single day. To keep that torch of 'Proper Journalism' burning brightly. It's an optimistic, albeit challenging, outlook, and one that gives us a bit of hope for the future of gaming media.
In a world where algorithms often dictate content and the lines between news and PR get blurrier than a low-res texture, a commitment to genuine, in-depth gaming journalism is more vital than ever. Here's hoping Chris and the Eurogamer crew can pull off this epic quest. The digital tea leaves are looking good, if a little smudged with espresso stains.
Tags: Gaming Journalism, Eurogamer, Industry News, Editorial Leadership, Chris Tapsell
Original article: Eurogamer